Chios Refugee Support Fund
Donation protected
On 22 December, the number of migrants crossing into Europe surpassed 1 million for 2015. The vast majority of these, over 970,000, have done so by traversing the Mediterranean Sea. The numbers are staggering and the preparedness (and willingness) of European governments to address the situation is lackluster at best. The refugees are arriving cold, wet, hungry and many in shock and traumatized from the journey that took them from their homes.
Before until a month ago, I had been posting on the refugee crisis on Facebook and talking about it with friends. Combine this with the political situation in the US with regards to the European refugee crisis and I wanted to do something about the situation. So, I decided to travel to Greece for a month, during December and January, and volunteer on the island of Chios to see what help I could offer. At the time of writing this post, I had been in Greece for 9 days volunteering at the Tabakika Registration Camp in Chios town. It has been an eye-opening experience, which I have been writing about in a blog at www.joshnewton.xyz.
In spending many hours every day with the collection, sorting and distribution of items for the refugees, I have come to see exactly what is needed and what we are constantly low on (shoes, jackets, socks, etc.), as well as food requirements and other potential gaps where funding would be useful. Many friends have wanted to contribute in some way to the refugee relief effort, so instead of suggesting somewhere to donate funds (and losing out on overhead and ineffective purchases), I decided to establish this crowdfunding site to collect contributions where I then can go directly to stores here and buy items (things are very cheap in Greece) and literally drop them myself in the distribution "boutique" of Tabakika. Or, give funds directly to those cooking food for refugees (as the UN, EU, Greek government nor NGOs give out food to the refugees - it's all done by volunteers) or give support to those rescue crews working the beaches.
I hope you will trust me with your contributions, but if you are in any way uncomfortable with this, this volunteer organization here is doing good work on Chios on the beaches and the funds would be used effectively.
I am in Chios until 14 January, so I would like to raise the funds before 10 January that I have time to go and buy items before I depart. Since GoFundMe allows you to use contributions immediately, if needs arise (like yesterday it was baby bottles!), I can make purchases immediately. I will update this site and the blog on where contributions have been spent.
I sincerely thank you all for even considering contributing. I appreciate it and I know there are thousands of refugees out there who will too.
Josh
Before until a month ago, I had been posting on the refugee crisis on Facebook and talking about it with friends. Combine this with the political situation in the US with regards to the European refugee crisis and I wanted to do something about the situation. So, I decided to travel to Greece for a month, during December and January, and volunteer on the island of Chios to see what help I could offer. At the time of writing this post, I had been in Greece for 9 days volunteering at the Tabakika Registration Camp in Chios town. It has been an eye-opening experience, which I have been writing about in a blog at www.joshnewton.xyz.
In spending many hours every day with the collection, sorting and distribution of items for the refugees, I have come to see exactly what is needed and what we are constantly low on (shoes, jackets, socks, etc.), as well as food requirements and other potential gaps where funding would be useful. Many friends have wanted to contribute in some way to the refugee relief effort, so instead of suggesting somewhere to donate funds (and losing out on overhead and ineffective purchases), I decided to establish this crowdfunding site to collect contributions where I then can go directly to stores here and buy items (things are very cheap in Greece) and literally drop them myself in the distribution "boutique" of Tabakika. Or, give funds directly to those cooking food for refugees (as the UN, EU, Greek government nor NGOs give out food to the refugees - it's all done by volunteers) or give support to those rescue crews working the beaches.
I hope you will trust me with your contributions, but if you are in any way uncomfortable with this, this volunteer organization here is doing good work on Chios on the beaches and the funds would be used effectively.
I am in Chios until 14 January, so I would like to raise the funds before 10 January that I have time to go and buy items before I depart. Since GoFundMe allows you to use contributions immediately, if needs arise (like yesterday it was baby bottles!), I can make purchases immediately. I will update this site and the blog on where contributions have been spent.
I sincerely thank you all for even considering contributing. I appreciate it and I know there are thousands of refugees out there who will too.
Josh
Organizer
Josh Newton
Organizer
South Burlington, VT
